Double frame bed



J. H. PILATES DOUBLE FRAME BED Oct. 9, 1951 Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JN VEN TOR. dosfp/f H. P/L A T65 A 77'ORNE).l

Oct' 9, 1951 .1. H. PILATES 2,570,855

DOUBLE FRAME BED Filed April 19, 1948 2 sheets-sheet 2 fa@ 8 23 .az @M 55 /31 22 9 10\ 6\\ /TQ -/17 .8`

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a 11 A2M Y V66 g 63 56. 63 64 j 56 9j Wn: Wk" l' l 62 i0/ f7 INVLNTOR. f 60 60 d055p/,f/P/LATE5 TTORA/E Y Patented Oct. 9, 1951 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE DOUBLE FRAMEl BEDV Joseph H. Pilates, New York, N. Y. Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,978

2 claims. (o1.V 5 210) The present invention relates to a special bed or couch which is made preferably of metal and particularly to a bed having rocking sections sustained by two or three springs imparting the total resiliency to the whole.

The main object of my invention is to provide a bed or couch of the character indicated rwhich has two rocking frame portions mounted upon the bed frame side by side and prevented from collapsing toward the center by the springs which are mounted as tension springs between the lower portions ofthe two frame portions.

Another object is to have such a bed or couch which uses a minimum of springs and tends to cause a person lying on the same to gravitate toward the center of the bed.

A further object is to have such a bed which has adjustable supports which may be brought up into supporting contactA with the two frame members to support them positively along the center of the bed.

It is also an object to have the head end of the bed adjustable either to upright positonor to be released from the bed altogether.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more fully in detail as the specication proceeds.

In order to bring out the features of this invention comprehensibly, the latter is illustrated on the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which,

Figure 1 is a plan View of a bed or couch made according to my invention and embodying the sameina practical form;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the samebed, as

seen from the bottom in `Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the bed takenon line 3-3 in the same Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken online 4-4 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view; and

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Figure 5.

Throughout the views, the same reference numerals indicate the same or like parts.

Many types of beds have been used from time to time, and springs for the same have often contained a large number of individual springs, but it is desirable to use a minimum of springs to avoid breakdown or partial collapse of portions of the bed springs by using more rm structures which use only two or three springs to allow center sagging to a limited extent. It is also desirable to be in a, position to prevent sagging altogether upon occasion, and to shift 2 the head of the bed when desired, and I have found it quite easy to design a bed with these characteristics, as I Yshall immediately proceed to describe. f

Hence, in the practice of my invention, and referring now again to the accompanying drawings, a bed, generally indicatedat l, primarily includes an outer frame preferably made of tubing or pipe and of substantially rectangular form as shown at 8 with side members and head end 9, I0 and II, respectively. This frame is indirectly supported upon the legs I2, I3, I4, etc., attached to the lower side frame members I5, I6 beneath side members I0 and '9 and having upright posts thereon at II, I8, I9, etc., directly supporting the upper frame members 9 and IU and thereby the frame Ii.v

Within the outline of `frame 8 are a pair of narrow frame members generally indicated at 20, 2I which vhave their side edges 22 and 23 hinged to the main frame members 9 and I0 by means of enveloping straps 24, 24, 24, etc., of figure 8 form. These interior frames have their inner side portions 25 and 26 closely juxtaposed but out of actual contact, said portions being secured to the side members 22 and 23 by means 0f frame ends 2'I, 29, 28, 30, respectively, while a plurality of longitudinally arranged straps 3|, l3|, 32, 32 are connected at the ends thereof to the ends 2'I to 30 of said interior frames. Across these straps just mentioned, a group of transverse straps 33, 34, 35, 36 are spaced apart vand secured both at their ends to the frame side portions 22, 23, 25 and 26 and also to the longitudinal straps just described, so that these inner frames are provided, asit were with lattice work areas for supporting a mattress or the like. Beneath the straps and 36 or both frames are secured downwardly projecting reinforcing angle members 3l, 3'8, etc., which have their bottom apices 39, interconnected by tension springs 4I (one shown) When a person lies upon the middle of the bed, the inner portions of inner frames 2U, 2| at 25, 26 tend to become depressed as far as allowed by springs4l. I

However, sometimes such a central position is not desired but rather a flat and substantially unyielding bed. Hence, as best seen in Figures 3 and 4, upon the lower frame members I-5 and I 6 at the portions where the legs connect therewith, are xtures 42, 43, etc., to which are pivoted trunnions 44, at the spaced ends of the short arms 46, v41 between which are xed a transverse tubular member or pipe 48 upon which the arched ends 49, 50 of supporting member 5I are fixed.l The trunnions 44 and 45 are held in position by suitable wing screws, so that releasing these screws will allow the supporting units 4B, 48, 50, 5| to be swung about the trunnions to the position shown in Figures 3 and 4, wherein the cross member 5| directly supports the inner side members 25 and 26 of the inner frames. When the supports are swung down with cross member 5| spaced .below the inner frames, the latter then depend on springs 4| to support the weight imposed on the center of the bed in resilient manner. Thus a choice is available for supporting the person using the bed on a firm Ilat supporting area, or upon a centrally yielding section causing him to gravitate toward the center, at least to a limited degree.

The bed may be provided with a special head or high end which is suitable for attaching eX- ercising devices thereto..4 The upright end frame 52 shown best in Figures 5 and 6, although also partly shown in Figures 1 and 2, includes the two upright posts connected at 53, 54 by top frame member 55 and a reinforcing cross member 56 spaced below the latter. At the bottom, the side members 53 and 54 are bent horizontally under the upper frame 8 to form bottom members 56, 51 connected together by a bottom cross piece 58 connected to holes 58 in l,said members 56 and 51 by a through bolt or the like, while further in between lower frame members 5 and 6 a cross member 68 is mounted for the present purpose. Of course, a pair of short studs extending merely a limited distance toward each other would also Vserve this purpose. Upon each of the two bottom members 56 and 51 are pivotally mounted by pivots 62 (one shown) a hook 6I adapted to hook over transverse member 80 and provided with a handle 63, while a spring 64 attached at 65 upon each bottom member tends tojpull back or raise the hook. The bottom members have a spacing member 66 projecting rigidly upward against the upper frame portion 2'2, for example, to prevent raising of the bottom portions of this upright frame 52. The manually releasable hooks normally engage upon the'mentioned-cross member 60 or the studs if used, while the side uprights 53 and 54 are attached to the outer -frame end by means of screws-or pins 61 and 68. If the manual hooks are released and these last mentioned pins or screws are removed, the whole end frame with its bottom members 55 and 51 as well as upright posts 53 and 54 ywith their transverse portions 55 and 56 may be bodily rem moved from the bed. Replacing this frame means, of course insertion of pins or screws 61 4 and 68 and locking manual hooks 6| on member 60, when the frame may be used for supporting various devices.

The bed may thus be used with, or without facilities for exercising, and as a flat couch or bed or as a partly centrally yielding bed structure, as desired.

Manifestly, variations may be resorted to and parts and features may be modified or used without others within the scope of the appended claims.

Having now fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A'bed comprising a rigid rectangular frame affording a pair of side rails and two rectangular framed members disposed between said side rails and .together forming a surface for the support of a persons body, said members being hinged to said siderails and so designed and constructed that whenthe bed is occupied by a persons body the central longitudinal portion thereof maybe disposed substantially below the level of said side rails and Vthe outer Ylongitudinal edges thereof remain at substantially the levelof said side rails so that the surface forms a dihedral angle having sides sloping vdownwardly toward the longitudinalcenter line from said side rails, and resilient means under tension normally opposing the angular downward movement of the said two members.

2. A bed according to claim 1, wherein means are provided whereby the two said framed members may be releasably locked 'to prevent the angular downward movement of the said Amembers.

JOSEPH H. PILATES.

REFERENCES yCITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 4,940 Krieghoi June .11, 1872 236,584 Hayhurst Jan. 11, 1881 248,065 Stewart Oct. 11, 1881 270,453 McCormack Jan. 9, 1983 356,114 Foster et al Jan. 18, 1887 382,486 Mooney May 8, 1888 817,918 Johnson Apr. 17, 1906 1,158,254 Magyar Oct. 26, 1915 1,427,020 Rooks Aug. 22, 1922' FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 188,978 Germany Sept. 14, 1907 

